Letterman Makes Deal With Striking Writers

Source: NY Times

David Letterman has secured a deal with the striking Writers Guild of America that will allow him to resume his late-night show on CBS next Wednesday with his team of writers on board, executives of several late-night shows said today.

Most of television’s late-night shows are scheduled to return to the air that night after being off for two months due to the strike, but it is likely that only Mr. Letterman, and the show that follows him on CBS hosted by Craig Ferguson, will be supported by material from writers.

The reason is that Mr. Letterman’s company World Wide Pants, owns both those shows. The company announced two weeks ago that it was seeking a separate deal with the guild that would permit the two World Wide Pants show to return to the air. The talks seemed to be at an impasse until today when the deal was completed.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/business/media/28cnd-strike.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Holy crap.

OMFG it is just unbelievably bad. The show I saw had two wacky chefs first, and that was a horrible mess, then he had three Playbot playmates, the Hefner girlfriends, and that quickly went south as well. I mean he's never good, exactly, but this was some of the worst stuff I've ever seen. Excruciating.

I never liked him anyway, but your description is hilarious.

Funny and witty and not even necessarily topical.

I just don't see it, I guess. Plus, the way he crawls all over his female guests is a little offputting. I thought he was going to like Janine Garafola's ear off before he french kissed her.

He just freestyles from a few topics he decides on beforehand.

I like knowing that Letterman is doing what he can to support the WGA.

is this: He supported the writers from the beginning. So why did it take so long to reach an agreement?

What I imagine is that those involved in the actual negotiations are of the type who want to make sure every I is dotted and every T is crossed. Then you have the meetings with the lawyers to make sure that neither side is going to be shafted someplace down the road. Also, I don't imagine that the WGA would want to agree to anything that could be used against them in their other negotiations.

However, that's all just speculation.

Good old Dave. I may have to fire up the old Colortini just watch is return. :)

Maybe everyone will come to their senses and pay the writers what they deserve.

I wonder what the deal was that they struck? I can't find anything on the WGA site. Good for Letterman. Just one more reason to love him.

I imagine he did.

You really believe the power was all on one side?

http://wgaeast.org/index.php/articles/1228?wgra=1#wga1228

Writers Guild Reaches Agreement with Worldwide Pants

Friday, December 28

The Writers Guilds have reached a binding independent agreement today with Worldwide Pants that will allow Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to return to the air with their full writing staffs. This is a comprehensive agreement that addresses the issues important to writers, particularly New Media. Worldwide Pants has accepted the very same proposals that the Guild was prepared to present to the media conglomerates when they walked out of negotiations on December 7.


Today's agreement dramatically illustrates that the Writers Guilds want to put people back to work, and that when a company comes to the table prepared to negotiate seriously a fair and reasonable deal can be reached quickly.

Leno and O'Brien are coming back too, but without writers (which means their shows will suck. Well, more than they do already).

Letterman now has a great opportunity to capture viewers and ratings.

and probably knows something about labor from his time growing up. I applaud the fact that he's come to an agreement with the writer's guild!

I already said he was better than Leno,and this proves It.While the rest will come back without
writers he and fraigson will be at the top of the game.The Politicans may not be happy that
Letterman can make fun of them again.

I remember as a kid catching his morning show and liking him then. Of course it was canceled after a short run (the price is right crowd just wasn't his audience) and he moved to late night. I've been a fan ever since he started and i'm glad to see he struck a fair deal with his writers.

Letterman is my favorite nighttime host as well.